Brilliant read, thank you Paul! I've found that reading broadly across various world views brings great clarity on the influences behind "Western" thought. Much of our modern popular culture is inspired by myths and concepts borrowed from other cultures. Subjects like psychology or art therapy, Jung's mandalas for example. I'm also restless with curiosity and would be terrified if I were any other way. I'm reminded of my final secondary school year when I joined an alpha group to see what Christianity was about too. I'm back wondering more than a decade later. Life is truly stranger than fiction sometimes - I'm also wondering what the holographic universe theory means these days. Finding the "Capital T Truth" has always been important to me, so I look forward to your future pieces on world view and if objectivity really exists at all.
Thanks for this. I identify with so much of what you said. The constant pursuit pursuit of capital T truth, the constant exploration, visiting, revisiting. Restless curiosity. These are all things that I live with daily. I am not a Christian, but I am in a Christian book club just so I can understand how they see the world.
First, as a believer in God, let me say I totally have no qualms with your atheism. It is clear from your writing that you are an earnest pursuer of truth, and that's what we are really getting at here. Frankly, that puts you in a class that separates you from many of the Christians I know, but also believers of other faith denominations, including secular atheism.
I have long since believed in your underlying message, of the merits of seeking to understand multiple points of view. For example, if you want to become truly cultured, I figure that you need to have lived in at least two cultures and ideally no less than three. Spending time in such various places allows your mind to process information at a deeper semi-conscious level that introduces much unity below the surface level in ways that explain various differences of cultural behaviors.
By extension, it is similarly helpful to understand the various points of view of different religions. However, for people like us, there can come a time when it is no longer necessary to keep exploring all religious points of view which, we should remind ourselves, include dogmatic versions of secular atheism through behavioral traits that are traditionally and exclusively ascribed to the believer groups.
Although I have no interest in discussing the merits of atheism at this point in my life, it is not because I haven't heard many of this way of thinking's basic ideas. Nor is it because I am a closed-minded or weak person, as some branches of atheism would prefer to believe.
It is because my own curiosity is fully sated.
Earlier in life, God addressed me in ways that so totally convinced me that He knew me and loved me that I have ever since been completely certain that God exists—then and now, as you read these words. At the end of that phase, which I think of as an Initiation, He spoke to me and said, "Don't worry, I have everything under control." In the moments after this occurred, I thought God was referencing my very real concerns about the direction of the world. Later on, however, I concluded that the statement was more literal, like the episode in question, which left me with absolutely no doubt that God exists. Since then, I have come to conclude that His statement was much more far-reaching and, likely, reflective of the two case studies that I recently concluded posting here which, if true, would be part of an overwhelming demonstration that I have seen occur through various similar examples on various levels—from the personal on up to the most inclusive planetary levels—independently of all scale restrictions, in other words.
As one who no longer needs to 'quest', when I read the words of a sincere and highly evolved thinker like yourself, one who doesn't believe, I can only conclude that the difference between us is a matter of experience and nothing intellectual. I applaud your willingness to engage a group of Christians in a book club, even though you don't believe and have no intention to. This tells me that you are a true philosopher, doing what you should be doing and probably need to do.
I can imagine that it sucks to hear this, for ultimately I am suggesting that if the same thing happened to you, you would become a Believer too.
What I do believe just as strongly is that God also loves you. Part of my own discovery process entailed embracing the fact that humans need to doubt, because this is how God made us—as mortal beings with finite levels of consciousness. Where such limitations exist, in a God-created Cosmos, doubt becomes an eternal fixture. Expressing doubt as you do is a virtue in my opinion. This is what separates you from most believers and non-believers alike. You don't do what you correctly describe as a 'global' phenomenon.
My only suggestion would be this, Paul, for whatever it is worth:
Keep doubting.
There may come a time when God enters the picture, while you are here, and answers you in the same way that I was spoken to. In the meanwhile, I say keep rocking with the philosophy thing. You clearly seem to be doing something that fits, or what you are "Meant" to be doing.
Beside, if us believers are correct, the various pursuits we all pursue here don't matter in the grand cosmic scheme of things. But they matter greatly to each of our individual dramas, and similar ones that play out at the family level and wider levels of group engagment. A good drama requires uncertainty, not infallible awareness, as the former is what keeps us engaged and what lends purpose to our lives.
Thanks for taking the time to write this wonderful comment.
I appreciate and agree with so much of what you said here. I struggle a lot with the question of when curiosity and endless searching and questioning is too much. When should we stop questioning and go deeper into one perspective? Or, is my purpose to endlessly question? Is that a stable worldview to have? Perhaps that is the philosopher’s approach to life?
I am glad you found peace in your beliefs and can live with conviction. It is sad when people think that a certain set of beliefs is inherently closed minded without understanding how people came to hold certain beliefs through lived experience and exploration.
For the last 15-ish years, I've been almost militant about pointing out the ignorance of religious believers. I'd agree, rather snobbishly, with an attitude like Dawkins response to the "what if you're wrong question?" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mmskXXetcg). Meanwhile, I'd completely bypassed the self-questioning: "well, what if I'M wrong?" For example, despite not believing, I'm VERY culturally Christian, with the moral framework deeply embedded.
As an antidote, a helpful lens that someone told me, is that when you say anything is true, you have to give it a % probability weight (very helpful when quoting "studies you read").
For example: "there is no god and I'm 95% sure about it." This practice forces some humility. And even if your % is wildly off, the point is to try and be more honest with yourself.
Interesting Rick. I like the probability approach. It changes how your beliefs are perceived by others for sure. The next question would be, of course, on what basis are you generating these probabilities?
It’s amazing how much love can change one’s worldview. I’m almost 45, and I’ve been in a relationship for the past almost six years. It’s not my first relationship, but it is the first where I'm challenged to express my feelings and listen to another person’s feelings—a true, honest, loving relationship full of understanding and respect. WOW does that impact your worldview! Really listening to someone else and seeing how they are experiencing reality is a spiritual awakening (look at me, saying “spiritual.” I would have never said that word six years ago). Spiritual not in a religious sense, but in a philosophical one.
I loved your exercises and questions, and the idea of one’s personal philosophical biography. One thing I would say is that it’s very mental. But our existence is also physical, and our physical reality has a huge impact on our worldview. “View” is directly connected to our senses.
I’d propose your following/students/posse—or whatever you call us—do this simple exercise:
1) Look out the window for a few minutes.
2) After looking for a while, if you’re tall, get on your knees; if you’re short, stand on a chair.
It makes total sense that a loving and intimate relationship can have this impact because two worldviews are coming together to create something utterly unique. One of the goals of the worldviews analysis approach is to help people understand each other and grow together.
Thanks Paul, this is a really important essay. I think limited worldview is close to the source of fear that is making such a mess of everything.
I was raised in the UK in a religious family and rebelled against that particular view, I think from first breath. But I benefitted greatly from it, not least through education and an academic profession. But in 1987 I began a postdoc in Zimbabwe and stayed in southern Africa for nearly a decade. Now the people there have a different take despite colonialism. I didn't go all bush drums and tribal dancing but I did get to understand a little of otherness to what I knew.
Whenever students ask me for career advice I just say, go live in another culture for a least a year, then decide what you want to do.
When we take the time to truly see another’s worldview, we stretch the boundaries of our own awareness. Without contrast, reflection, and curiosity, our understanding remains limited.
To explore another’s perspective is to hold up a mirror to our own beliefs, and in doing so, we either deepen them or dissolve what no longer serves.
Understanding others is not separation, it is sacred expansion.
I'm curious, you begin by honoring the limitation of one’s worldview, but end with a gesture of access to everyone else's. How did limitation become permission? If anything, the deeper we grasp our own fragmentation, the less inclined we are to assume coherence in others.
Thank you! I appreciated your thoughts! Your question, "How did you arrive at your current worldview?" reminded me of when my mom said to me, with great indignation, "It was when you were hitchhiking around Europe at age 20 that you became a liberal!" You might be right mom, you might be right...
To suggest that one cannot understand their own worldview without understanding another assumes a symmetry that rarely exists. Our fragmentation precedes our frameworks. Misunderstanding is not merely a lack of exposure, it is the natural consequence of epistemic divergence. Clarity, in my opinion does not arise from aligning mirrors, but from confronting the distortions they reveal.
Brilliant read, thank you Paul! I've found that reading broadly across various world views brings great clarity on the influences behind "Western" thought. Much of our modern popular culture is inspired by myths and concepts borrowed from other cultures. Subjects like psychology or art therapy, Jung's mandalas for example. I'm also restless with curiosity and would be terrified if I were any other way. I'm reminded of my final secondary school year when I joined an alpha group to see what Christianity was about too. I'm back wondering more than a decade later. Life is truly stranger than fiction sometimes - I'm also wondering what the holographic universe theory means these days. Finding the "Capital T Truth" has always been important to me, so I look forward to your future pieces on world view and if objectivity really exists at all.
Thanks for this. I identify with so much of what you said. The constant pursuit pursuit of capital T truth, the constant exploration, visiting, revisiting. Restless curiosity. These are all things that I live with daily. I am not a Christian, but I am in a Christian book club just so I can understand how they see the world.
Hi Paul,
First, as a believer in God, let me say I totally have no qualms with your atheism. It is clear from your writing that you are an earnest pursuer of truth, and that's what we are really getting at here. Frankly, that puts you in a class that separates you from many of the Christians I know, but also believers of other faith denominations, including secular atheism.
I have long since believed in your underlying message, of the merits of seeking to understand multiple points of view. For example, if you want to become truly cultured, I figure that you need to have lived in at least two cultures and ideally no less than three. Spending time in such various places allows your mind to process information at a deeper semi-conscious level that introduces much unity below the surface level in ways that explain various differences of cultural behaviors.
By extension, it is similarly helpful to understand the various points of view of different religions. However, for people like us, there can come a time when it is no longer necessary to keep exploring all religious points of view which, we should remind ourselves, include dogmatic versions of secular atheism through behavioral traits that are traditionally and exclusively ascribed to the believer groups.
Although I have no interest in discussing the merits of atheism at this point in my life, it is not because I haven't heard many of this way of thinking's basic ideas. Nor is it because I am a closed-minded or weak person, as some branches of atheism would prefer to believe.
It is because my own curiosity is fully sated.
Earlier in life, God addressed me in ways that so totally convinced me that He knew me and loved me that I have ever since been completely certain that God exists—then and now, as you read these words. At the end of that phase, which I think of as an Initiation, He spoke to me and said, "Don't worry, I have everything under control." In the moments after this occurred, I thought God was referencing my very real concerns about the direction of the world. Later on, however, I concluded that the statement was more literal, like the episode in question, which left me with absolutely no doubt that God exists. Since then, I have come to conclude that His statement was much more far-reaching and, likely, reflective of the two case studies that I recently concluded posting here which, if true, would be part of an overwhelming demonstration that I have seen occur through various similar examples on various levels—from the personal on up to the most inclusive planetary levels—independently of all scale restrictions, in other words.
As one who no longer needs to 'quest', when I read the words of a sincere and highly evolved thinker like yourself, one who doesn't believe, I can only conclude that the difference between us is a matter of experience and nothing intellectual. I applaud your willingness to engage a group of Christians in a book club, even though you don't believe and have no intention to. This tells me that you are a true philosopher, doing what you should be doing and probably need to do.
I can imagine that it sucks to hear this, for ultimately I am suggesting that if the same thing happened to you, you would become a Believer too.
What I do believe just as strongly is that God also loves you. Part of my own discovery process entailed embracing the fact that humans need to doubt, because this is how God made us—as mortal beings with finite levels of consciousness. Where such limitations exist, in a God-created Cosmos, doubt becomes an eternal fixture. Expressing doubt as you do is a virtue in my opinion. This is what separates you from most believers and non-believers alike. You don't do what you correctly describe as a 'global' phenomenon.
My only suggestion would be this, Paul, for whatever it is worth:
Keep doubting.
There may come a time when God enters the picture, while you are here, and answers you in the same way that I was spoken to. In the meanwhile, I say keep rocking with the philosophy thing. You clearly seem to be doing something that fits, or what you are "Meant" to be doing.
Beside, if us believers are correct, the various pursuits we all pursue here don't matter in the grand cosmic scheme of things. But they matter greatly to each of our individual dramas, and similar ones that play out at the family level and wider levels of group engagment. A good drama requires uncertainty, not infallible awareness, as the former is what keeps us engaged and what lends purpose to our lives.
Best wishes on your path.
Thanks for taking the time to write this wonderful comment.
I appreciate and agree with so much of what you said here. I struggle a lot with the question of when curiosity and endless searching and questioning is too much. When should we stop questioning and go deeper into one perspective? Or, is my purpose to endlessly question? Is that a stable worldview to have? Perhaps that is the philosopher’s approach to life?
I am glad you found peace in your beliefs and can live with conviction. It is sad when people think that a certain set of beliefs is inherently closed minded without understanding how people came to hold certain beliefs through lived experience and exploration.
Thanks Paul, and much respect
🙏 🫡 👏
For the last 15-ish years, I've been almost militant about pointing out the ignorance of religious believers. I'd agree, rather snobbishly, with an attitude like Dawkins response to the "what if you're wrong question?" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mmskXXetcg). Meanwhile, I'd completely bypassed the self-questioning: "well, what if I'M wrong?" For example, despite not believing, I'm VERY culturally Christian, with the moral framework deeply embedded.
As an antidote, a helpful lens that someone told me, is that when you say anything is true, you have to give it a % probability weight (very helpful when quoting "studies you read").
For example: "there is no god and I'm 95% sure about it." This practice forces some humility. And even if your % is wildly off, the point is to try and be more honest with yourself.
Interesting Rick. I like the probability approach. It changes how your beliefs are perceived by others for sure. The next question would be, of course, on what basis are you generating these probabilities?
It’s amazing how much love can change one’s worldview. I’m almost 45, and I’ve been in a relationship for the past almost six years. It’s not my first relationship, but it is the first where I'm challenged to express my feelings and listen to another person’s feelings—a true, honest, loving relationship full of understanding and respect. WOW does that impact your worldview! Really listening to someone else and seeing how they are experiencing reality is a spiritual awakening (look at me, saying “spiritual.” I would have never said that word six years ago). Spiritual not in a religious sense, but in a philosophical one.
I loved your exercises and questions, and the idea of one’s personal philosophical biography. One thing I would say is that it’s very mental. But our existence is also physical, and our physical reality has a huge impact on our worldview. “View” is directly connected to our senses.
I’d propose your following/students/posse—or whatever you call us—do this simple exercise:
1) Look out the window for a few minutes.
2) After looking for a while, if you’re tall, get on your knees; if you’re short, stand on a chair.
3) Look out the same window for a few minutes.
4) Enjoy your new worldview.
Thanks for another great post!
Ramiro,
Thanks for this comment, I love it.
It makes total sense that a loving and intimate relationship can have this impact because two worldviews are coming together to create something utterly unique. One of the goals of the worldviews analysis approach is to help people understand each other and grow together.
Thanks Paul, this is a really important essay. I think limited worldview is close to the source of fear that is making such a mess of everything.
I was raised in the UK in a religious family and rebelled against that particular view, I think from first breath. But I benefitted greatly from it, not least through education and an academic profession. But in 1987 I began a postdoc in Zimbabwe and stayed in southern Africa for nearly a decade. Now the people there have a different take despite colonialism. I didn't go all bush drums and tribal dancing but I did get to understand a little of otherness to what I knew.
Whenever students ask me for career advice I just say, go live in another culture for a least a year, then decide what you want to do.
Profound truth.
When we take the time to truly see another’s worldview, we stretch the boundaries of our own awareness. Without contrast, reflection, and curiosity, our understanding remains limited.
To explore another’s perspective is to hold up a mirror to our own beliefs, and in doing so, we either deepen them or dissolve what no longer serves.
Understanding others is not separation, it is sacred expansion.
Thanks for this Zenzi.
You said it better than I could.
And if you truly understand your own, you realize how limited it was to begin with, and then you begin to understand everyone else’s.
I'm curious, you begin by honoring the limitation of one’s worldview, but end with a gesture of access to everyone else's. How did limitation become permission? If anything, the deeper we grasp our own fragmentation, the less inclined we are to assume coherence in others.
You said it better than my attempt.
You don’t grasp others’ worldview, you understand the limitations of all of them.
Ahhh, okay. I rarely hear anyone who has reached the point of understanding this and it's ontological implications. So I had to clarify.
Only read title and subtitle but big agree!
Thank you! I appreciated your thoughts! Your question, "How did you arrive at your current worldview?" reminded me of when my mom said to me, with great indignation, "It was when you were hitchhiking around Europe at age 20 that you became a liberal!" You might be right mom, you might be right...
Haha, thanks for sharing this little anecdote.
To suggest that one cannot understand their own worldview without understanding another assumes a symmetry that rarely exists. Our fragmentation precedes our frameworks. Misunderstanding is not merely a lack of exposure, it is the natural consequence of epistemic divergence. Clarity, in my opinion does not arise from aligning mirrors, but from confronting the distortions they reveal.
your own worldview is the hardest to understand!
Well said, Paul.